Waxing

We have been cautious for years in showing information for waxing
stars since the smoke from the wax can easily catch fire. I once put
out a wax fire on the stove with a dishcloth. After that, I melted wax
outside. Many people have used double boilers to be safer. Below is an
email from Diane.

Hi, I have been making these stars since I was 8 years old. I am 63 now.
Back in 1957 our family moved from New Hampshire to Ohio. A news paper place
called the Farm & Dairy used to sell the strips. I have made them as small
as 1/2” big or should I say small that fit on my thumbnail, this requires
tweezers to make. We always waxed and put glitter on our stars. Through the
years I have found some glitter that makes your stars just lovely! Pictures
really do not capture how pretty they are! Of course there are many types of
sprinkles you can use. Below are instructions that I use for mine.

WAXING....Supplies: Melting wax such as Gulf Wax Bars.
Large size can such as sauerkraut or pumpkin pie MIX
comes in, or for smaller can use larger size that pineapple rings comes in,
paper off, washed and dried. (the can needs to be tall enough for dipping and
wide enough for your stars)

First cover a large work area with
layers of newspaper. Set your skillet on newspaper area, make sure the area you
have chosen is sturdy! Card tables, TV trays are not stable enough.Place your can in the skillet, add at least
2-3 bars of Gulf Wax chunked up depending on your can size. THEN addenough water to fill
the electric skillet to about 2/3 full, turn on heat to 250-300 degrees until water is JUST forming
bubbles but NOT boiling and the wax is melted. Once
the wax is all melted, turn the heat down to simmer more or less depending on
your skillet. They do vary but you want to keep the wax melted but not too
hot. Once you have finished your stars cut all but one of the
longest tails on! Us the tail to dip the star in the wax, bring it up and let
it drip, you can gently shake it and tap the star against the can until the no
more wax running. Some dripping is ok as you need to work quickly before
the wax is set when putting on glitter. Place the star on the newspaper, evenly
sprinkle one side, flip star, and sprinkle the other side. Set aside and
continue dipping and glittering your stars. If wax get low add more chunks.
When finished, turn off heat and let the wax harden. Take out the can, dry
throughly. I then wrap the can in foil and tuck away for another time. I have
even made paper chains and waxed and glittered them for trees and decorations!

TYING ON CORD for hanging as
ornaments...Once star is cool and dry, use a metal yarn needle the biggest you can get or darning needle
to poke a hole in the middle of one of the star’s tip. Thread can be used but I
like to use Darice Metallic gold elastic cord (20 yards on a card) found in most
hobby stores like Pat Catans, JoAnn Fabric’s or sometime in Walmart) Cut about
a 7” piece. Pass one end through the hole that was made, bring both ends
together and tie a knot. If ends a long snip. Perfect for hanging on a
Christmas tree.

I am very thrilled to see you have the paper strips, although we have
always gotten them 18” long as any shorter the ends become very difficult to
work with. We always have taken the ends of the strips and cut to narrow
rounded ends. If you get a hang up trying to push the strip through a fold, we
will trim one side to a slanted point and they go right through! I have made
thousands! Taught many!